Economy West Africa Homepage

We continue to be bullish the naira, projecting further appreciation to NGN116/US$ by year end 2008. We believe inflationary pressure, specifically non-food inflation, has played... 2008-01-04

We forecast that Cameroon's current account deficit will remain stable and project a year-end shortfall of 2.3% and 1.9% of GDP for 2008 and 2009, respectively. Although strong real... 2008-01-04

BMI View: The 100bps prime rate hike from 12.5% to 13.5% illustrates the Bank of Ghana's hawkish monetary policy stance. We believe the central bank will remain vigilant in 2008,... 2007-12-19

BMI View: We envisage Gabon's exports growing strongly in the coming years, boosted by elevated oil prices. The value of exports is expected to exceed US$7bn by 2009. While imports... 2007-11-23

BMI View: Given our positive outlook on the economy and the cocoa industry, we believe that the country's current account deficit will be sustainable over our forecast period. In... 2007-11-23

BMI View: We forecast strengthening of the naira to NGN116/US$ by end 2008 on the back of the 2008 draft budget's assumption that the average exchange rate next year will be NGN117/US$.... 2007-11-23

High world oil prices have postponed a decline in oil income from declining production. The aggregate economic numbers look pretty good, but the state continues to post a large and... 2007-11-21

BMI View: Cameroon's budget for 2008 contains some key measures such as tax relief for the ailing agricultural sector. Implementation constraints pose a key risk to the authorities'... 2007-11-20

Debt relief is perhaps the most important hurdle Liberia must jump on the run to economic recovery. With financing finally secured, an agreement to begin waiving IMF and World... 2007-11-14

There are alternatives to oil-fuelled development in future, with trade services, telecommunications, agriculture and tourism all interesting prospects. The main question is whether... 2007-10-31